Ok, now that I have a working Xbox and the crowds and notes in Rock Band are no longer see-through I was finally able to play! I played a lot, too. Yesterday I went through easy and medium on drums. Well, see, I went through medium drums until I hit Green Grass and High Tides and then I went back and did all of easy for the hell of it and found myself in an awesome groove and then passed the rest of medium and a chunk of hard. Then my rhythm went out the window when quiet hours came around so I had to switch to guitar. Good times. I <3 drums. I do need to make them quieter though since I don't need to add to the list of reasons my roommate has to kill me in my sleep*. I know there are options like this or this or I can do the very ugly but supposedly super-effective and score increasing sock mod. Of course, I want to mess around with this as well. It’s nice to get more than your money’s worth out something :)

Anyway, Rock Band (warning: annoying window resize link). It’s good. Get it if you have the means and a place to play. It was tricky finding space for everything in my dorm room but I did figure it out and now I’m not accidentally kicking the drums every single time I get in and out of bed. I haven’t played much of the vocals yet since I know so few of the songs. Yes, I know, I know. My rock knowledge is pitiful at best and that really showing here. As I hear the songs more and pick up the lyrics — or break down and find the songs and listen to them while walking about campus — I look forward to giving that a shot. The only thing in Rock Band I’m not totally sold on is the guitar and it’s hard to put my finger on why, exactly. Personally, I think it’s a finger issue. I’ve been lucky so far that my drum pedal is still intact and I can strum both up and down on my guitar but it’s just not all that comfortable to me as a leftie. Star power/overdrive seems a little easier to hit while holding the guitar upside down but it’s the frets I have the most issue with. Maybe I’m just overly accustomed to my Freedom V Wireless Guitar Controller (PS2) but I find the clacking of the fret buttons annoying and I can’t seem to slide up and down with ease like before. I’m slowly learning to use the lower fret buttons for solos on hard and expert but it’s an adjustment and takes time.

Alas, now I have to go back to prepping for the week ahead so that’s it for gaming for a few days since this week is filled with assignments and quizzes and report due :(

*
1.) I play music constantly
2.) I sing along to the music
3.) Even when music is not playing, I am probably singing
4.) Whether or not I play music, I’m probably gaming too (why gain levels and listen to the same theme over and over when I can hear new songs and sing to them over the clash of battle?)
5.) I now have Rock Band and want to get people together to play with me
6.) I’m a morning person with early classes and I’ve never seen her in the morning. Unless she stayed up all night.
7.) I cook fairly often so it seems like my dishes are always taking up the whole drying rack
… I think that’s enough reasons for now but, trust me, there are more.